224 On the Meteor of Blay 18th, 1838, 



near as can be ascertained, appeared every where at the same ab- 

 sohite mstant. 2. The meteor was every where seen in the same 

 place. Not in the same direction as referred to the points of the 

 compass, bnt occnpying the same absohite position as referred to 

 the earth's surface. That is, the appearances are perfectly ex- 

 plained by supposing a single meteor of great size, elevated about 

 thirty miles above the earth's surface, to have described a nearly 

 horizontal path of more than two hundred miles. Such a sup- 

 position will satisfy all the observations within the limits of the 

 unavoidable errors of observation. 3. The meteor was every 

 where of remarkable size. It was of such splendor as is very 

 seldom seen. 4. It exhibited a train, besides several peculiarities 

 so extraordinary, as to identify it without danger of mistake. It 

 broke into several fragments which fell behind the main body 

 and followed at some interval. This will be considered more 

 fully hereafter. These four facts combined, prove conclusively 

 that it was indeed the same meteor seen by the different ob- 

 servers. The evidence is the same in kind, and Avell nigh the 

 same in degree, as that Avhich assures us that it is one moon 

 which is seen in the northern and southern hemispheres. As- 

 suming, then, that all the observations were made upon a single 

 object, I proceed to determine as accurately as possible the height 

 and course of the meteor. At Hanover, N. H., the meteor was 

 observed by Professor Hubbard. When first noticed, it bore S. 

 80° W. elevated above the horizon 9° 38' ; it disappeared N. 69° 

 W. at an elevation of 3° 24'. These numbers were obtained by 

 measurement from the remembered position of the meteor, and 

 were communicated to me by Professor Young. At Clinton, in 

 New York, the meteor was observed by Professor Catlin, of Ham- 

 ilton College. It first appeared S. 13° 25' W., elevated 4° 30' ; it 

 disappeared N. 67° W., elevated 8°. At an intermediate point it 

 bore N. 87° 30' W., elevated 12° 36'. At Buffalo, N. Y., the 

 meteor was observed by Mr. R. W. Haskins. He first saw it a 

 little south of east, and it disappeared a little east of north. Its 

 greatest altitude was 27°. At Hudson, Ohio, the meteor was ob- 

 served by Professor Barrows. It was first seen N. 83° E., eleva- 

 ted 7° ; and disappeared N. 35° E., elevated 6°. In Aurora, a 

 town adjoining Hudson, the meteor was observed by Mr. E. 

 Brown. He first saw it due east, elevated about 8° ; and it dis- 

 appeared N. 30 E., elevated 8°. At Ann Arbor, Michigan, the 



